Best Time to Travel to China

Malaysia
October 9, 2009 10:33am CST
So, my parents-in-law wanted to travel to China, and my hubby has decided that he should accompany them and, of course, he wanted me to come along. I don't mean to be impolite or something, but China is apparently not in my list of places to travel in the near future, but since the idea has been brought up, I guess this is the best opportunity for me to learn about that country. I hope anyone out there can share some advices like when is the best time/month to travel to China? Which is recommended, a sling bag or a bag pack for safety?? How is the public transportation??? I hope to hear from our fellow Lotters from China and those who have been there before. Thanks in advance!
2 people like this
12 responses
@zhouxi (1752)
• China
10 Oct 09
hi,corrycrystal,welcome you to china.i think you should decide which area you want to tour first.china is a very big country,there are many differences in different area about weather,public transportation and safty...In Beijing,the best time is April and May,it's spring time there,it's also very good season in October and Septemble in autumn.if you want to experience New year culture there,usually Janually and Feb is the best time.it's winter there,you should prepare you thick clothes.It's very safe in Beijing.wish you have a nice time!
2 people like this
@zhouxi (1752)
• China
12 Oct 09
It's safe here.Shenzhen is located in the south of china.Near Shenzh of Guangdong province,there are two nice places.the first is Hainan island.it's a beautiful and clean island.the other is Guilin in Guangxi province.you can search them on internet.you try!have a nice time!
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
12 Oct 09
Hi, Zhouxi! As mentioned in my previous comments to the responses above, before touring, they are planning to visit Shenzhen. I have read in some of the reviews on the internet that it is a place with the highest crime rate in China. Is it true? However, I have also seen that they have plenty of tourist attractions at that place either. I will consider April or May if we plan to go to Beijing since I also love Spring time and I am sure it will be packed during New Year. Well, thanks for your response and kind wishes.
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
12 Oct 09
Thanks for your quick response. Like I said before in one of my responses, most of the reviews I read were old so, it is much better to hear from people like you who live in China. Hainan and Guilin, I will surely take note on these two places. Thanks for the information, Zhouxi!
@lilyliu (31)
• China
10 Oct 09
Hi,Corrycrystal: I'm chinese and i can give you some advices.i think fall is the best season to come our country.you can see different scenery in different city.and every city has its own special feature. if you want to go beijing or other north city,you need to take some sweater or coat.after sep.,it will be a little code in the night.while you choose the south city of china,you just need to wear the T-shirt. the public transportation is good,you can go where you want to.but i still want to give you a piece of advice: you'd better not go out in rush hour.as well known,china has a large population.when in the morning or people get out off their work,may be the traffic is very busy. and your bag is safety? you can put some valued stuff in your slig bag and take care about it.but as other ordinary things, you can pake them. if you want another information, you can still ask me,it's appreciated to tell you. good luck for your travelling in china.
2 people like this
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
Hi, Lily! Thank you SO much for the valuable information. I really appreciate it. I think my parents-in-law are planning to go to the Southern of China to visit some relatives. I would like to know more about Shenzhen. Thanks again for your help in advance.
1 person likes this
• China
10 Oct 09
the weather of shenzhen is warm,maybe a little hot. so you just need take some shirts and short-sleeze shirts.shenzhen don't have much natural scenery and it's a modern city.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
9 Oct 09
Dear corrycrystal, Wow... going to China, that's great! By the way, which part of China are you going to visit? It depends on where and when. Are you all following any tour company or by your own? I have personally been to Beijing and nearby counties in June 2002. At that time the weather is perfect, I only need a backpack and a windbreaker. Then I visited Shanghai and nearby area like Suzhou, Wuzhen in October 2007. It is a bit cold, we wear jackets (winter jacket but I remove the fur). A scarf is good... Have a wonderful holiday and cheers!
2 people like this
• Malaysia
9 Oct 09
Hi, Iriene! If I am not mistaken it will somewhere in Shenzhen. I don't know yet whether we are going to follow any tour company. Most probably, on our own, but things might change because they are still planning. Which one do you recommend? So, that means if we travel sometime in November, it would be very cold then.
1 person likes this
• China
10 Oct 09
yeah,i'm in the city of suzhou.it's not so cold in October,we just wear T-shirt now and it's a good season to come here. But if you come here in Novermber,you need some coats and scarf.
1 person likes this
@sasalove (1709)
• China
10 Oct 09
Welcome to travel to China. How long would you like to stay in China? As a Chinese, I recomend you to Suzhou City or Hangzhou city, which is a great city to go and I have ever been there last year. Another city is Yunnan Lijiang,which takes around 3 to 4 hours from Yunnan airport. I went there 2 years ago and I missed that place very much. You will feel very relaxed just sitting in the bar with enjoying the lanscape there. Surely you could find your fun there.
2 people like this
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
Hi, Sasa! Thanks!! I am not quite sure yet how long we will be staying there. Many people have suggested Suzhou City, well, I think I should suggest the place to my family because this is a great opportunity to visit all the touristy places at one time. I really hope they will consider going during autumn and spring time as well.
1 person likes this
@buping (952)
• China
10 Oct 09
hi corrycrystal, i come from china. and in central china to be specific. it is atumn in china now, it's a harvest time. generally autumn is suitable for travel everywhere. i do not know where you are going in china, but i recomend some place here. metropilic city like beijing, shanghai, beautiful scenery like yunnan, guiiln. you can search some information on site. hope you have a enjoyable travel.
2 people like this
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
Hi, Buping! Thank you for the suggestions. Yes, I would also look for more information on the internet, but it is always better to hear from those who are residing in the country itself. More accurate and details because you live there. Thanks!!
1 person likes this
• China
12 Oct 09
HI,CORRY!I am a Chinese.It depends where you will visit.If you want to haerbin ,the best time is arround the new year,when it is very cold ,you should be in a warmmer cloths,but the place in winter is really beautiful and a place worth to go in your life.IF you go some other places ,you had better go next year in the summer,cause the winter is comming!
• Malaysia
12 Oct 09
Hi, Zhongguoml! I appreciate your feedback. Thanks! I have been suggested to so many places and I love the idea of experience winter in a beautiful place. I don't think we can go to all the places, but it will be a great suggestion to put in our list. Oh, my country is already hot and I don't really fancy going at summer time. What I have in mind now is either before or after New Year.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
13 Oct 09
corrycrystal, There is quite a number of itineraries you can choose and plan, but it will really be dependent on how much time all of you can afford for the trip. Shenzhen is really quite cosmopolitan and has everything for both young and old. Hotels even the 3 stars have free internet access, broadband of course. As for eating, I do not think there will be any problems if you are a Cantonese cuisine lover. The sightseeing and shopping is just boundless and I am sure you will be equally thrilled. Some combinations you can consider for this holiday. Shenzhen with Hong Kong Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Have a good trip.
• Malaysia
14 Oct 09
Hi, Skysuccess! We have no worries about how long we will spend for the holidays as it will definitely be a long one. That is good if we could have free internet access as it will be very convenient for me and hubby. Oh yes, food will not be a problem except that I will definitely avoid those exotic food that I have heard and read about. I am so looking forward for the sightseeing and boundless shopping means heaven. Thank you for the suggestions and this is quite a positive response to me.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
10 Oct 09
I have been to China but I have dreams of going there. Their culture is so rich that you can visit amazing places there. A sling bag is better when you are travelling. It is safer too than backpack.
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
Hi, Doris! I have always wondered about the Great Wall of China. Yes, I prefer sling bag when traveling because it is much easier and convenient to get something from my bag, but it also depends. If it requires a lot of walking, then, I think a backpack would be nice.
1 person likes this
• China
10 Oct 09
Yes, It is a place where many people want to travel. Welcome to China and enjoy a good life there in the future.
1 person likes this
@inutme (372)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
Places in China can be very different from one another, depending on where you are going. Transportation is very convenient in some places, while it's not in others. There's Maglev train in Shanghai, so you get the idea on how advanced they already are. Best time to travel? I would say spring, well, wherever I go, I usually prefer spring. Bags? It actually depends on you, but I prefer sling/messenger bag. If you'll do adventure travel then backpack should be better. Good luck and have fun!
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
9 Oct 09
I have read some of the reviews about places in China, but most of them were four to five years back. I am looking for some fresh information. How did you handle your bag? Was it safe carrying it around with you?? I am just curious. No, it won't be an adventure travel because my parents-in-law are elderly people.
1 person likes this
@Ruby722 (796)
• China
10 Oct 09
Hello Corrycrystal I am from China.And i have to say in this season come to China it's a wise choose (of course Spring is great too).There is some palce i recommend if you plan go to BeiJing you should go to visit our great wall and palace museum the building is amazing.if you want to go Hangzhou the view is beautiful you should go west lake(there had a beautiful love happened that place in history).If you want to go Suzhou you should go to visit wuzhen.It is great as well..If you want to go Shaihai right the city is preparing the world exposition i belive you don't won't miss it..and so on..A lot of city or country is beautiful here..I belive you can have a great journey.and good memories.Besides don't worry too much there are no so many crimes ..Protect your safe is ok.and maybe you will meet this situation people can't understand what are you saying..because not everyone understand english ..If you want to help maybe you need a guide..Do you have any friends in China? I insure you guys won't lost... Anyway 'Welcome to our country.You coming is our honor!"
2 people like this
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
Hello, Ruby! I will definitely suggest the Great Wall to them after a visit to the southern part, but are all the places far from one another? Do we have to take another flight or we can travel overland?? Is it convenient??? My father-in-law and hubby can speak Chinese so, I don't think there will much problem in the language, but since there are also not familiar with the places and what to expect, it is better to get more information in advance as a preparation. Well, thanks for your advices and kind words, Ruby! I really appreciate it.
1 person likes this
@magic9 (980)
• China
10 Oct 09
hello, buddy, I am from China. when I read you that you have never put China in your travel list, I really think you should reconsider this even though I don't love the policy in China. The natural scenery is awsome. Its beauty is beyond my words that you can only tell by seeing it and experiencing it. There is no definate right season to come to China because the timing is based on the region you visit. For instance, if you come to the southern part, of course summer season, May through August is the golden time.
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
Hi, Magic! Oh, I don't mean that I never want to travel to China. I have always wondered about the Great Wall of China. It's amazing , except that I have no plan to travel there in the near future. Since my parents-in-law have planned for this trip, so, it will be a bonus and priority in my list right now. I will definitely want to see and experience the place for myself, but do you think it's wise to travel in November especially to the southern part?? Thanks, again.
1 person likes this
@getbrowser (1708)
• China
10 Oct 09
When you have made a diecsion to travel to China, so don't worry about it. I am from China and there are lots of places worth traveling. You can enjoy a better life if you live in your own country well. The public transportation is well and both a sling bag and a bag pack are safe there. You know, China is a developing country and there are thieves, the poor, the crimes... Yes, it is really a proper to travle, but is Malaysia better than China? I don't think so. All in all, Good luck there and enjoy a better life. As Chinese, I will say: Welcome to China, my best friend!
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
Hi, Get! I am not comparing which country is better because that is not my main point of this discussion. I am looking forward to travel to China now that's why I feel it will be much better to get some picture on how it is to be there. I really appreciate the information you have provided me and I understand what you mean about the crimes. They exist everywhere even in my country, so I just want to avoid that kind of places in every country I visit or be prepared as a pre-caution. Anyway, thanks for the best wishes, friend!
2 people like this